Transnational Crime's Effect on the State
Globalization is already changing the international system by increasing interdependence between countries. Organized crime, a real threat to state sovereignty, has globalized and become a threat to security. Organized crime has managed to develop as economic and armed powers. Transnational criminal organizations (TCO), gangs, threaten peace and development nationally and globally, and ultimately place state governance and stability in jeopardy.
Transnational crime challenges the power dynamic between countries and within countries. As Williams describes, TCOs are able to violate borders and use borders defensively to their benefit (166). They completely disregard state rules and policies. States maintain their sovereignty partially through coercive power. Organized crime exercise the use of coercive power as well, using violence to remove competitors to their businesses (Williams, 167).
The modern TCO, these non-state actors, seem to be acting more towards long term objectives. They are interested in commercial profit and controlling territory to allow for freedom of movement and action. With more movement and action, they are able to expand their activities, expanding their geographical and commercial parameters. The gangs supporting TCOs are able to evolve and operate in a manner that spreads violence and instability, affecting wide regions of the political map and generating more instability and insecurity subnationally, nationally, and regionally.
TCOs pose the biggest threat and have the most opportunity when governments fail to extend a legitimate sovereign presence. This leaves a gap for organized crime groups (gangs, cartels, insurgents) and the government itself to compete for power. Examples of this struggle can be seen in Latin America and the Caribbean, where the governments' presence and authority have diminished allowing for drug cartels/gangs or insurgents to govern over the region. Organized crime groups take advantage of the governance void, whether its territorial, economic, or social, and the lack of law and order, and use this to further their own interest. They fill the void by providing employment, protection, and a false sense of stability. A state's loss of control and legitimacy caused by transnational crime can cause the collapse of a state, which can have global consequences.
Transnational crime challenges the power dynamic between countries and within countries. As Williams describes, TCOs are able to violate borders and use borders defensively to their benefit (166). They completely disregard state rules and policies. States maintain their sovereignty partially through coercive power. Organized crime exercise the use of coercive power as well, using violence to remove competitors to their businesses (Williams, 167).
The modern TCO, these non-state actors, seem to be acting more towards long term objectives. They are interested in commercial profit and controlling territory to allow for freedom of movement and action. With more movement and action, they are able to expand their activities, expanding their geographical and commercial parameters. The gangs supporting TCOs are able to evolve and operate in a manner that spreads violence and instability, affecting wide regions of the political map and generating more instability and insecurity subnationally, nationally, and regionally.
TCOs pose the biggest threat and have the most opportunity when governments fail to extend a legitimate sovereign presence. This leaves a gap for organized crime groups (gangs, cartels, insurgents) and the government itself to compete for power. Examples of this struggle can be seen in Latin America and the Caribbean, where the governments' presence and authority have diminished allowing for drug cartels/gangs or insurgents to govern over the region. Organized crime groups take advantage of the governance void, whether its territorial, economic, or social, and the lack of law and order, and use this to further their own interest. They fill the void by providing employment, protection, and a false sense of stability. A state's loss of control and legitimacy caused by transnational crime can cause the collapse of a state, which can have global consequences.
Phil Williams, “Transnational Organized Crime and the State,” in The Emergence of Private Authority in Global Governance, ed. Tom Biersteker and Rodney Bruce Hall (Cambridge, 2002).
This reading was particularly interesting to me as it married two of my interests: criminology (which I studied in undergrad) and international relations (which, obviously, we are all studying now). Your final paragraph touches on the power-competition between TCOs and the state, particularly when the government fails to establish legitimacy. This is particularly intriguing to me as thus far in class, we have primarily discussed power struggles between states, but this adds a new layer: non-state actors. In order to further their own interests--as you said--TCOs take advantage this lack of legitimacy. In analyzing this from Laffey and Weldes perspective (interests stem from ideas), I wonder how TCOs ideas might be categorized. Their interests are primarily money and/or territory-based, but their ideas are less clear. A state's ideas might be that of sovereignty, power, and security, but are these the same as TCOs, or are these mechanisms fundamentally different? I'm curious what you're thoughts might be on this.
ReplyDeleteGood points Sarah, in this week's assignment we talked about interest and ideas in relation to authority and violence. In that, our group focused on ISIS. Don't want any spoiler alerts, but TCOs like ISIS or Al Qaeda have a foundational ideology which fuels or supports their interests. I think religion plays a big role in some TCOs in defining their interests and confirming their subsequent actions. ISIS believes that the way they interpret Islam is the only way, and they spread this ideology through violent means.
DeleteI found our reading on TCOs to be interesting because of the various ways that they use different states. The author categorizes host, home, transit, and market states as being utilized by TCOs for illicit means. Home states and transit states seem to bear the brunt of violence and disorder caused by TCOs. Market states seem to be first world nations who are fueling the demand for drugs in particular. Do you think that Market states have a moral responsibility to support home and transit states in their fight against TCOs? If so, to what degree?
ReplyDeleteI do think that Market states have some moral responsibility help fight against TCOs by implementing policies hindering TCO operations. However, it would be difficult for them to control the demand for illicit goods within their country outside of law and policy. TCOs are a problem because they ignore laws and operate outside set boundaries. The article does mention that they exploit weak governments, so states should look internally to strengthen their governments to drive TCOs out.
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